Burma Rescue

FAO To Donate More Cattle To Myanmar's Cyclone-hit Regions

YANGON, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is making arrangements to donate more draught cattle to support the rehabilitation work of Myanmar cyclone victims, Xinhua news agency said, quoting the local "Weekly Eleven" report Tuesday.

A total of 550 cows and cattle as well as 15,000 chickens and 60,000 ducks are set to be distributed by the UN organization in November and December this year to survived farmers for the resumption of their agricultural work.

Besides, local and other international organizations are also planning to donate pigs, chickens and ducks for the victims.

In July this year, purchasing from lesser-cyclone-hit region of Bago and cyclone-free northern region of Mandalay, the FAO had donated 600 cows and cattle for four cyclone-hit regions - Kungyankon, Mawlamyine, Ngaputaw and Phyapon to help restart agricultural cultivation.

Earlier, local reports said altogether 1,400 draught buffaloes and cows have also been supplied by local organizations and well-wishers to the storm-hit areas for recultivation.

Deadly tropical cyclone Nargis, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states -Ayeyawaddy, Yangon, Bago, Mon and Kayin on last May 2 and 3, of which Ayeyawaddy and Yangon inflicted the heaviest casualties and massive infrastructure damage.

The storm has killed 84,537 people, leaving 53,836 missing and 19,359 injured, according to official statistics.

Altogether 300,000 cows and cattle died in cyclone-hard-hit Ayeyawaddy and Yangon divisions.

-- BERNAMA